GOP should heed Tea Party victories
The American people’s disappointment with the Democrats should mean sweeping gains in both the Senate and the House by Republicans in the November elections. This may not happen due to the failures of Republican Party leadership.

First, the American people want to hear the specific plans and alternatives the Republicans offer on the economy, jobs, health care, immigration, national security, and all the key issues facing our country today. To date no specific plans are evident. This is a major failure.

The Republicans want to play both ends against the middle, waffling on key issues, leaning toward the middle, even the left, when their constituents are crying, actually screaming from the rooftops, for conservatism.

Finally, and most importantly, there is a failure by the Republican Party establishment in understanding and paying serious attention to the major grass roots force that exists with the Tea Party This major movement across our country is being misrepresented by some, but it is a real and powerful movement by everyday Americans that will bring a major influence to all the elections. Already, in the primaries, its presence has been felt. Yet instead of embracing and incorporating the Tea Party movement, the Republican establishment seems to be fighting it. They are clinging to their middle-of-the-road waffling, rather than the change and true conservatism that the Tea Party movement is crying for. The Republicans stand poised to take back control of the House, and possibly even the Senate, as a backlash against the current leadership. This may not happen due to the reasons given above.
--Al DiLASCIA
--Chicopee

Government failing to serve the people
Government serves the people, not vice versa. In “GOP to block tax increase,” the Associated Press states, “Renewing the tax cuts for everyone would cost the government almost $4 trillion.”

Wrong.

It ought to state that allowing the tax cuts to expire would cost people $4 trillion more in taxes. Money generated in the economy belongs to the citizen, not the government.
--WESLEY SULEK
--South Hadley

Dogs that attack should be put down As a dog lover and owner for my whole life, I have acquired much insight on the subject of how to treat dogs, how to recognize that certain breeds (e.g. Pit Bulls) should never be trusted, while other breeds are non-aggressive. If the dogs that attacked the little girl in Ludlow are truly a mastiff/boxer mix, they either come from a line that was not bred properly or have been mistreated or both. I have owned six boxers in my life and have known a few mastiffs. Both breeds are kind, sweet, and perfect with children, guarding any child they are around.

After being involved with several dog organizations I have fostered, also worked toward educating others on how to treat a dog as a member of the family and not to chain them or put them in a basement or so many other things that will surely ruin them.

Having said all that, once a dog has attacked then people become the victims. The dogs should immediately be put down. There is nothing else to do. Springfield is already overrun with Pit Bulls both in and out of kennels. We should not have to take these recent attack dogs in to our city. As much as I have a strong love for dogs, I also have learned the importance of recognizing when an dog must be put down. Thank you to Mayor Domenic J. Sarno for standing up for our city.
--SALLY CYR BREHART
--Springfield

Too many Catholics choose ‘cafeteria’ style
I am writing in response to Sister Denise Granger’s letter to the editor. “Cathedral educator caught in time warp.” Obviously, she is one of the many religious who have chosen moral relativism over truth. She, like many other “cafeteria Catholics” pick and choose what they will believe.

The church proclaims what Jesus Christ teaches. When she speaks of “the unyielding nature of the church’s doctrinal stances,” she puts herself in opposition to Jesus Christ. I am the parent of a Catholic School student and I send my child there because I believe in all the teachings of the church, not just a few of them.

I have no doubt that Christine Judd, who was forced out of Cathedral High School for marrying her female partner, was a fine educator, but she made a choice that was in direct opposition to the teachings of Jesus Christ. The church is responsible to lead people away from sin and direct them to truth. The most irresponsible thing to do is to tell those who are opposing Jesus Christ to continue in their sin and that everything is OK.

Both parties will be called to account on the Day of Judgment. For all those “Catholics” who think of our Savior as a peace loving, tolerant, nonjudgmental teacher, you should refer to Matthew 10:34, if your not too busy railing against His Church. Meanwhile, the true scandal here is not, as Granger says, the response of the Church. The true scandal is Catholics who feel their personal opinion is superior to the supernatural truth of Jesus Christ and His church.
—DAVID P. BERGERON
—Granby